Bnechis

It still runs nice...........How many T-shirts do you think it is worth?

We develop our spec's in-house. We solicite help form ALL venders (i.e. show us what you recommend for us to consider). We also request spec's from other depts and from manufacturers of components (i.e. from the generator manufacturers). We try very hard to write a generic spec, that 1) everyone can potentially build, 2) requires that everyone will probably have some exceptions and 3) that gets us the unit we need. We try hard to not stear it towards one manufacturer. We have seen others illegally "rig" their bids with lines like "the unit will be built within 1 mile of the city of Ocala" or it must say Seagrave or Pierce on the mudflaps, or any other attempt to exclude potential venders.

Since ALF is not accepting new orders it is unlikely that they would bid on it. Before we "look" we need to see who puts in a proposal. E-One has never put in one with NR, and with there financial situation I dont think they will start now. THere are many fine manufacturers out there, but if they do not bid, then its academic. We will get the bids back and determine who can build what we are looking for at the best price (the priority being who can build what we want). You went thru 144 page document, with a lot of technical issues and thats the only error...thanks. Yep its cut and past, but in an RFP its about the cost not this detail. The manufactures need to be able to figure out what it will cost them to produce this rig and the difference here is one less letter (so it will be 8% cheaper) The details of what will be written on the rig needs to get signed off during the preconstruction conference.

Many depts. go with front suction because its easy to hook up or because the rig its replacing had it. But in general the front hook up is not a great idea. It adds a lot of cost (aprox $40,000), it reduces the officers leg room, it increases maintenance (the last 4 we bought [1988 7 1996] all cracked and had to be removed/replaced), Also I've seen too many MPO's nose in to make the hook up, kicking out the rear of the rig and blocking out other units, particularly the truck from the front of the building and lastly if you do the flow calculations you find that front suctions lose 10 - 30% compared to the side intake. To travel the 10-15 feet from the pump the friction loss with all the twist and turns to clear the front axle and engine is the equvilant of about 100' of hose.

The Bundles and The Apartment Lay Did not like "The Bundles" too short and likely to kink We use the apartment Lay, but I think our straping is faster/easier to release (plus its attached to the hose so its less likely to get lost. We carry 2) 75' x 2" lines with a striaght tip. Each rig carries an extra length for buildings with a longer stretch.

Garrison is selling Ferrara, but is still covering ALF for outstanding orders. ALF is not taking new orders and if they remain open is questionable. Rumor has it that most of the suppliers including Hale, Waterious and FRC have stopped shipping unless its COD and full price.

The main con is when they roll the roof collapses and crushes the occupants. NFPA 1901 committee is debating if commercial cabs should be phased out for this reason.

So when the rig crashes and your 100, 200 or 300 (or whatever) pounds slam into me ending my career thats ok......I'm wearing mine and my injury is not caused by my actions, they are your fault. And if I (or my family) can sue you or not or even win is not the issue. The issue is you may believe you can be hurt or not care. But if your on my rig your job is to protect my back. If you can't or won't do that ..........I can not call you "Brother".

They were only allowed to impliment that in about 6 states and NYS was not one of them. The State Insurance Commisioner would not allow it. Also Allstate dropped ISO in a couple of states, then after finding that there system cost more, dropped it and went back to ISO. The real issue for an insurance company is 1) how acurate is any system in determining the fire loss and 2) what they have to pay for that data. ISO charges the insurance companies for the rating. Also averaging only works when you have a very large base (i.e. NYC, which a bad years loss is about the same as a good year, just because of total # of fires). As an example, In a community that has 5 working fires and total loss of $1m as an average per year, over the last 3 years, then this year has the same, plus burns down the local_______ (school, wallmart, factory...etc.) that was worth $10m now has a 4 year average of $3.5m thats higher than the last 3 years combined. Part of the problem is that the state regulates this and the state has only authorized an equipment list from 1980. This does not proclude depts from using new gear for poins, but you need to know how. This system was here long any of us (Its over 100 y/o) and its tied to $$$$. USE IT to get what you need. In my experience, most depts with 8, 9, 10 either dont want to deal with ISO, because they don't understand it or because they dont want anyone "telling us what to do". The only excuse for not having a better rating is failing to try. The 8b is a residential only rating and I can not think of a single dept with a 9 that could not improve to an 8b with less than 1 days worth of work and save every residential property 8% per year for the next 15 years. Basically you get the 8b if you own a tanker....how many ruarl depts dont own one?

It impacts all property insurance rates. commercial, residential, stock (as in all the stuff filling a biz.), renters and crop insurance. Its worth millions. In NR the city proposed cutting an engine and laying off 16 ff's in the 1990's. This was done to save $1 m. We showed that that was poor politics in an election year since it would increase commercial rates 16% and residetial 8% a total of $12m (not including renters and stock). Funny how they found the money. It may not be an effetive or accurate measure of an FD. But it is the only thing that has $$$$ tied to it. The Politicians care more about $$$ than the FD and it gives us a tool to fight for what we need. Also there was a fire executive study (NFA) that compared ISO ratings to civilian fire deaths & injuries and they found the better the rating the lower the inj/death rate. This is probably not due to the actual rating, but due to the communities commitment to haveing a 1st rate dept and water supply.

http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php?showtopi...hl=mount+vernon Emtbravo Reports - Feb 27 news 12 Reports - Aug 4. Good thing news 12 is as local as local news gets.

200' Booster or 200' preconnected 1-1/2" hose 1-1/2" carried 400 feet 1-1/2" spare (may also be carried) 200 feet 2-1/2" carried 400 feet 2-1/2" spare (may also be carried) 200 feet 2-1/2" or Larger carried 800 feet 14-ft. roof (for the engine credit) 16-ft. roof 20-ft. roof or 2) 16-ft. roof 24-ft. extension (for the engine credit) 28-ft. extension 35-ft. extension Note: you also need to carry a minimum of 10 SCBA's and 10 spare tanks, plus full complement of engine and ladder equipment. Full size tandum axle quints dont have enough room to carry what required. 40-ft. extension or 2) 35-ft. extensions

Good thing you told us. I along with most of the job did not know that. Including the 20 -30 who live in Dutchase (including a Deputy Chief), a (now retired) Deputy chief who lived in the eastern 1/2 of ct. I know the personnel directors brother lives near the Canadian Border a handful in CT, and at least 1 on L.I. Also in the past one who lived in Vermont. Does the dept. prefer yu live local......Yes. Do they force it......you tell us.

NFPA 1710 says you need 4 on and engine and 4 on a truck. they also say if you run a quint you need more: 5.2.2.4 Fire companies that deploy with quint apparatus, designed to operate as either an engine company or a ladder company, shall be staffed as specified in 5.2.2. If the company is expected to perform multiple roles simultaneously, additional staffing, above the levels specified in 5.2.2, shall be provided to ensure that those operations can be performed safely, effectively, and efficiently. The problem with a quint when you have manpower shortages is you do both rolls poorly. Better to be a good engine and get mutual or auto aid for the truck. Technically you need at least 6 members to operate a quint. We have a 75' quint (now in reserve status) and its too short to ladder anything. with the setbacks of most of the buildings mentioned it will be of little use. In my experience, quints can be any of the following: An ok - fair engine and a poor truck An ok - fair truck and a poor engine Or just too big to get down the road. ISO counts them as 1 and 1/2 units so this can hurt or help, but only if equiped properly. If you replace 1 vehicle with a quint you gaine 50% if you replace 2 you lose 50% according to ISO. I see from the pics it does not have the ground ladders needed to meet the standard, so it will not do well on the truck side. If they dont carry enough hose (which looks questionable) then they will also score poor on the engine side. I hope this is a smart choise for them. My comments have nothing to do with the type of manpower, just the lack of it and my experience with a couple of quints (we've owned 3, and I've evaluated a number of other depts for ISO ratings).

Thats on the Fire Side Only. When the counties wanted to run hazmat teams in the early 1980's the state passed legislation allowing for it (but no other fire response service) then later they did the same for Tech rescue. The county politicians would never go for it. The intent of the Muni-CON was that a City, Town, village or Fire District that was not happy with its coverage did not have to go before the REMSCO and get the approval of the agency that currently provided the service to be replaced. This made it easy for a local government to replace commercial services that held the local contract. For our county to do it it would p*ss off to many local services and local politicians. They would never go for it. While this is technically possible, I think it is highly unlikely do to the turf issues in Westchester. Turf is such a big deal that when Suffolk County suggested mandating minimum response times the providers threatened the Head of the REMSCO, who end up recieving PD protection.

Because it is illegal. Counties do not have the legal authority to run FD's in NYS (Only City's, towns, villages and non-profits) The county can run EMS, but they need a CON (certifict of need) that shows an area does not have coverage. Currently each VAC or community has a CON. So for the county to do this they would need the approval of the agencies, and they can't even agree to the fact that they can handle it...no way they will agree to give it up

Then why not require your drivers to become EMT's? They did join a V AMBULANCE C.......Maybe at a minimum they should know what to do on an EMS call.

Ok so one ambulance is not enough...............but having no ambulances is better? Please Help ME with the MATH................The VAC's cant get out so you take away one responder to respond in a flycar, how does this help? What is the purpose of sending anyone on a medical emergency who does not have any medical training?

What good is sending just a driver? Whats the purpose of send someone (particularly using lights and siren, putting the public and themselves at risk) when they are of no use to the person that requested an ambulance? If thats the best you can do, save the money, don't buy and equip a fly car, don't put the community at risk by driving RLS. Use the money to pay for a cab, they will drive the patient to someone that can actually help them. Just thought of something......In 1966 the US DOT wrote the "white paper" it basically said people were dying on the nations highways because of no pre-hospital system. At that time "EMS" was basically a driver (with no training) in a vehicle that could drive fast to the hospital. Now 42 years later agencies are want to put a driver (with no training) in a vehicle that could drive fast to scene and not even to the hospital. I've always said "if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem"............If this is the solution to the problems in EMS, then EMS is doomed.

Seth, You've blamed the County before and again I ask you how do you expect them to "lay down the law" when State law prohibits them from doing so?

If my mom or dad was having a heart attack and the 1st 5 vacs didnt get out, what good is a BLS fly car? Have them share getting one AMBULANCE out that can Transport!!!! If they can not or will not do that, hire staff If they can not or will not do that, hire a commercial service If they can not or will not do that, TELL the community the truth...YOU CANT HELP THEM and instead of calling 911 and waiting 35+ minutes call a taxi...you'll be in the ER in less time and have a chance.

Thats right, the residence have the right to under manned, under trained, under experienced, over taxed, and over equipped service like everyone else in NYS.

I dont think even that will do it. The majority of those depts that score that way dont know any better, the communities dont know any better and they will all claim it was a tragety that nothing couldhave been done to prevent it. and will continue on as if nothing ever happened. Not having hydrants is the excuse that 99% of the ISO 9 depts use, but there are non-hydranted depts that rate a 4. Thats the difference between a passing grade in school (60-69%) vs. (10-19% on an open book test for an ISO 9).

1st who will "cite" you? 2nd its not abandoment, if you never started patient care. The first legal point that must be proven by the plantif is that an emergency existed. The 2nd legal point is duty to act. If they have not proven D.t.A. then you can "abbandon". 3rd. If someone complains to NYS DOH that you had a duty to act and failed to, NYS BEMS could charge you and a DOH ALJ could fine you or suspend your EMS certification.